Chris Kluwe fined $5,250 for message on Hall of Fame patch

Vikings punter Chris Kluwe knew he was going to get fined for writing “Vote Ray Guy” over the 50th Anniversary Hall of Fame patch on his jersey last week.

Kluwe took athletic tape and made his statement about a player he believes should be the first punter elected to Canton. The NFL followed suit on Wednesday with a $5,250 fine that Kluwe announced via Twitter.

He also took some time out to compliment the league on their letter-writing etiquette.

My favorite part of the fine email from the NFL - they end it with "sincerely". It's the little touches that let you know they care.

Chris Kluwe is really starting to get on my nerves. You’re a punter bro, you’re expendable. Stop crying for attention and just focus on kicking the football so that it lands between the end zone and the 5 yard line.

Worth every dime. I give this man all the credit in the world. I hope he walks into the commish’s office and pays it off in pennies and counts them out wearing a Ray Guy T shirt. Ray Guy should be in the Hall of Fame or just eliminate the Hall of Fame.
Punters are players too.
Keep swinging Chris !

The man is right, there’s no reason Ray Guy shouldn’t be in the HOF. Good for him for having the balls to point that out.

seamhereseamthere says:Dec 12, 2012 2:39 PM

Kluwe is really too cute by half. But in this case he has a valid point.

Pay the fine and enclose with it a personal note to Roger Goodell and then post it for everyone to see. That ought to make it almost worth the $5K….

leeeroooyjeeenkiiins says:Dec 12, 2012 2:40 PM

Hey, you there! Stop speaking your mind! You’re a punter, don’t you know you’re supposed to keep more silent than a woman in Saudi Arabia while I spout off my nonsensical opinions online from my mother’s basement?!

Ask anyone who the greatest reciever is and the convo starts with Jerry Rice….only one other position has a player like that. It’s the punter and his name is Ray Guy. That is literally the only argument you need to get him in. It’s a recognized postion on a team and he was a weapon in every sense of the word. Him not being in is just embarassing for league and it’s broken system of rewarding it great players of the past.

It’s the Hall of FAME….not the Hall of players we decide are crucial based on a system no one knows.

Unlike too many players, Kluwe can offer intelligent arguments for his causes. He also understands that many won’t like what he has to say, and accepts it without apologies or inarticulate back-tracking.

“Chris Kluwe is really starting to get on my nerves. You’re a punter bro, you’re expendable. Stop crying for attention and just focus on kicking the football so that it lands between the end zone and the 5 yard line.”

Apparently, you missed him roll an amazing punt out on the two yard line just this past weekend. Uninformed people are really getting on my nerves. Maybe you should focus on the facts…….Ray Guy was an amazing player deserving of the hall.

let’s vote for holders and long snappers while we’re at it. how bout the guy who’s the best at blowing up the wedge and gunners who create the most fair catches?

jjackwagon says:Dec 12, 2012 3:30 PM

I am on the fence on this one. Ray Guy was definitely the best at his position. But the reason a punter is on the field is because the offense failed to get a 1st down. So on teams that are good and don’t use the punter much, the punters numbers are going to be low and they won’t ever get to the HoF, but on teams that suck and go 3 & out all the time the punters numbers are going to be great!!
HoF is an individual award but football is supposed to be a TEAM sport.
Ray played for a long time so is the HoF just a longevity award?
Sorry, still on the fence.

mogogo1 says:Dec 12, 2012 3:34 PM

The tough life of an NFL exec: Deciding if this “infraction” was worth $5,225 or only $5,175. (Because if there’s one thing the NFL hates more than a concussion lawsuit, it’s fines with round numbers.)

Honestly, some of the hate I’m seeing for Kluwe is just sad. Whether or not you agree with his stances, you’ve got to respect the intelligence he’s shown.

As for attention seeking? You’ve got to be kidding with how many real divas we have in the NFL. This guy is showing his support in a stance he believes in. He’s never gotten into trouble with the law, and he makes articulate arguments in causes he believes in.

If you’re going to be narrow-minded and bigoted, at least own up to it.

sadviking says:Dec 12, 2012 4:45 PM

Who cares if he is a good punter or a bad punter. Evaluation of his arguments should be based on their own merit, not his social standing. That’s one of the basic premises of freedom of speech. Personally, I think he’s made some very salient points over the last few years, and he’s been one of my favorite PEOPLE in the NFL since he negotiated terms for his number with McNabb.

I don’t mind that he’s opinionated even though I don’t agree with some of what he says (like thinking KC shouldn’t have played that game after the Belcher murder/suicide). I think it’s great that he pushed Guy for the HOF. That said, he knew he’d be fined and that sarcastic little tweet about how the NFL shows it cares because of how they signed the fine letter is just too petty. As Ditka would say “STOP IT”. You did something cool, don’t mess it up being small.

I am on the fence on this one. Ray Guy was definitely the best at his position. But the reason a punter is on the field is because the offense failed to get a 1st down. So on teams that are good and don’t use the punter much, the punters numbers are going to be low and they won’t ever get to the HoF, but on teams that suck and go 3 & out all the time the punters numbers are going to be great!!
—————-
Field goal kickers get on the field because the offense failed to get a first down as well, and one of them is in the hall. I don’t think Guy is the best at his position, but he is famous, and it is the Hall of Fame. Why do you think Joe Namath is there?